Gov. Ricketts Highlights Benefits of Biofuels During Renewable Fuels Month

On Thursday, May 19, Governor Pete Ricketts highlighted Renewable Fuels Month in Nebraska and the importance of biofuels to Nebraska by kicking off a unique ethanol promotion at Sapp Brothers in Omaha.  The Governor previously designated May as Renewable Fuels Month in Nebraska by signing a proclamation.

“With renewable fuels, we’re not only adding value to the crops we grow, but also expanding America’s domestic fuel supply while creating quality jobs all across our state,” Governor Ricketts said.  “Renewable fuels have a positive influence on our economic landscape in Nebraska.  By filling up with biofuels, you support Nebraska’s farm families and generate as much as $3 million in tax revenue for our rural communities.”

Nebraska’s economic prosperity is closely tied to agriculture, the state’s number one industry.  Nebraska ranks second national for ethanol production, which consumed 43 percent of the state’s corn crop in 2014 according to the Nebraska Department of Agriculture.

Both American Ethanol and soy biodiesel are clean-burning, renewable fuels made from homegrown Nebraska commodities.  These fuels and co-products greatly contribute to Nebraska’s economic vitality and make an impact across the entire country.  More than 1,500 people in rural Nebraska and more than 850,000 people nationwide are employed in the renewable fuels industry, according to a 2014 economic impact study released by Fuels America.

In addition to financial benefits, biodiesel and American Ethanol also provide many environmental and consumer benefits.  According to the American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest, some 70 percent of harmful air pollution is attributable to mobile sources such as passenger vehicles, trucks, buses, and construction equipment.  Biodiesel reduces hydrocarbon emissions by 67 percent.  Similarly, American Ethanol is a non-toxic, clean-burning fuel that dramatically reduces the level of toxics added to gasoline, including proven and suspected carcinogens such as benzene, toluene, and xylene.

"When it comes to air quality, renewable biofuels such as American Ethanol and biodiesel burn cleaner and help make our air healthier,” Governor Ricketts noted.  “Renewable Fuels Month is a great way to bring awareness to the wide range of benefits biofuels provide.  Nebraska-produced biofuels are cost-effective, American-made, renewable, and better for our environment.”

In recognition of Renewable Fuels Month, Nebraska’s corn and soybean farmers announced they would give drivers in the Omaha metro cause to celebrate.  Renewable biofuels were offered at a steep discount from 4-7 p.m. at Sapp Bros. located at I-80 Exit 440 in Nebraska.

More photos of Renewable Fuels Month celebrations can be found here.

Renewable Fuels Are Better for Our Environment

September is Renewable Fuels Month!
Part Three of a Four-Part Series for Renewable Fuels Month

Nebraska’s air is more dangerous than it looks thanks to toxic cancer-causing particles that enter our lungs and bloodstream when we put fuel in our vehicles. The good news is that we have a sustainable, home-grown renewable solution: biofuels.

When consumers pull up to the pump, they may believe they are just filling their tank with fuel—what most don’t realize, however, is that they are also filling the air with dangerous toxics that threaten our health. Oil companies have added a deadly combination of toxic carcinogens known as BTX (benzene, toluene, xylene) to our fuel to enhance octane.  Similar to the now banned octane boosters, lead and MTBE, which oil companies used in the past, the health threats of BTX are growing with every research study. These carcinogens do not completely combust in the engine, and as a result, ultrafine toxic particles leave the tailpipe and enter the air we breathe. These particles are linked to serious health problems such as asthma, heart disease and lung cancer.

Fortunately, Nebraska farmers produce a sustainable, renewable solution that is not only non-toxic, but also a clean burning source of octane. Renewable-biofuels, made from corn and soybeans that are produced right here in Nebraska, burn cleaner and improve air quality compared to conventional fuels. When drivers use American Ethanol and biodiesel, they’re improving air quality and reducing serious health problems not only for themselves, but also their children and grandchildren. These renewable fuels lower the level of toxic, cancer-causing emissions in vehicle exhaust—reducing air pollution, improving human health, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emission standards have been a hot topic over the last few years, which is good news for renewable fuels such as American Ethanol and biodiesel. The ethanol industry is producing fuel that is up to 59% lower in GHG emissions than regular gasoline. While biodiesel reduces lifecycle GHG emissions by up to 86% compared to regular diesel fuel.

“It’s easy to see that home-grown corn and soybeans have a positive impact on our environment, especially when it comes to using them in our vehicles,” said Dennis Gengenbach, farmer from Smithfield, Nebraska and vice chair on the Nebraska Corn Board and vice chair of the National Corn Growers’ Ethanol Committee. “The more we learn about the dangerous effects the exhaust from petroleum has on the environment and our health, the more we need to encourage the use of clean-burning fuels such as American Ethanol and biodiesel.”   
                                      
Many consumers are beginning to change their purchasing decisions as they realize the clear-cut benefits of using renewable-biofuels. As a result, automotive manufacturers have recognized the growth in this demand, and have brought several new models of fuel efficient diesel vehicles to the market in recent years. They have also made flex fuel vehicles, which can operate on any blend on American Ethanol and gasoline up to E85, abundant for consumers to purchase.


Everyone can make the individual choice to make our air cleaner and healthier. By making the simple decision to fuel up with American Ethanol or biodiesel, consumers can make a very big difference in our air quality and for the health of our families.

Nebraska's Golden Triangle Benefits Renewable Fuels

September is Renewable Fuels Month!
Part Two of a Four-Part Series for Renewable Fuels Month

Nebraska’s economic prosperity is deeply rooted in agriculture. Very few states can stake claim to the high rankings and diverse production that Nebraska consistently maintains year after year. Besides taking the top ranking in cattle on feed, in 2014, Nebraska also ranked first in popcorn and Great Northern dry edible bean production.

Last year, Nebraska ranked third in corn production and fifth in soybean production, accounting for nearly 12 percent of the nation’s corn bushels and almost 8 percent of the nation’s soybean bushels. Nebraska’s centralized location, access to water, and fertile soils make it a natural hub for crops, livestock and biofuels production – all of which make up Nebraska’s Golden Triangle.

“No state is better situated with crops, livestock and renewable fuels than Nebraska,” said David Bruntz, farmer from Friend, Nebraska and secretary/treasurer on the Nebraska Corn Board. “Nebraska ranked second nationally in ethanol and distillers grains production in 2014. These production rankings clearly illustrate the interdependent nature of the biofuels and feed industries.”

Farmers have solid, established markets for corn – ethanol and livestock – while the two-dozen ethanol plants across our state then provide renewable fuel and a feed ingredient for the livestock industry, giving cattle feeders in Nebraska more feed options and an advantage over feeders in other states.

Soybean acres in Nebraska are up nearly 13 percent from last year. Not only do soybean farmers expect a large crop, but they also expect to find a market for that large crop as well. Roughly 97 percent of domestic soybean meal goes to feeding poultry, hogs and other livestock.

The majority of the oil from soybeans continues to be used for human consumption, but biodiesel production has increased significantly over the last few years, helping to alleviate a glut of soybean oil that remained on the market. In fact, roughly one quarter of all soybean oil is now used to produce biodiesel.  According to a study conducted by the USDA, the increased usage of biodiesel has returned nearly $0.74 per bushel to soybean farmers while decreasing the price of meal by $21 per ton.


Eugene Goering, a soybean farmer from Platte Center, Nebraska and chairman of the Domestic Marketing Committee for the Nebraska Soybean Board, thinks Nebraska’s Golden Triangle makes perfect sense. “Agricultural production in Nebraska is part of a very dynamic system, a system in which soybeans, corn, and biofuels production can fit in perfectly with livestock production. We can market our crops locally, create jobs locally and keep some of these tax dollars in our communities.”

Renewable Fuels Offer Consumers Choices at the Pump

September is Renewable Fuels Month!
Part One of a Four-Part Series for Renewable Fuels Month

Nebraskans have the choice of what type of fuel they put in their vehicle when they fill up. These options are available thanks to renewable biofuels such as American Ethanol or biodiesel. In September, Nebraskans can celebrate these choices with the recent proclamation of “September is Renewable Fuels Month” by Gov. Pete Ricketts (see photo on the right).

Biofuels come in many different blends and can be found all over the country. Most vehicles can fill up with E10, vehicles newer than 2001 can use E15, while flex fuel vehicle (FFV) owners can fill up with flex fuel blends from E20 up to E85. Biodiesel blends can usually be found at levels of B5, B10 or B20. Blend rates are identified by the number following the letter, so B20 is comprised of 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent regular diesel fuel, whereas E85 is 85 percent American Ethanol and 15 percent regular unleaded gasoline.

Finding the fuel choice for your vehicle is simple. “The main thing to know is if you have a flex fuel vehicle (FFV) or not. If you do have an FFV, you can fill up with any blend of American Ethanol up to E85. If you don’t have an FFV and it’s newer than 2001, you can fill up with any American Ethanol blend up to E15,” said Tim Scheer, farmer from St. Paul, Nebraska and past chairman of the Nebraska Corn Board.

When consumers make the choice to put these renewable fuels in their fuel tank, they are choosing their energy future. A future with renewable fuels is less reliant on the oil industry and its negative impacts on our environment. By using renewable fuels, they will also diversify their fuel sources to positively impact America’s economic and national security, which ensures a healthier future for the environment.

“Renewable biofuels offer consumers a wealth of benefits when they fuel up at the pump,” added Scheer. “While there are a lot of options to choose from, the decision to use these renewable blends is an easy one. It is cost-effective, American-made, renewable and better for our environment and consumer health.”

While biofuels are better for the environment, many motorists are also pleased to know it is better for their engines. Evidence shows that ethanol keeps engines clean by preventing build-up in the fuel injection system and reducing tailpipe emissions. Additionally, since it is water-soluble and has a low freezing point, it helps prevent a vehicle’s gas line from freezing up in cold weather. 

Biodiesel also offers many benefits, such as added engine lubricity and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Another benefit is that you do not need to modify your engine to run biodiesel, and when using biodiesel motorists won’t be sacrificing fuel economy or performance. Whether you drive a car, truck, semi, or farm equipment, biodiesel is made to work in any diesel engine.

“With today’s innovative engine advancements, biodiesel now has a place for every diesel engine. It has been proven the fuel provides similar fuel economy, horsepower, and torque as regular fuel,” states Ron Pavelka, farmer from Glenvil, Nebraska and chairman of the Nebraska Soybean Board. “Whether it be in town, on the interstate, or steering down the rows of a field, renewable fuels are home-grown and here to stay.”

2015 Corn and Soybean Checkoff Tour

The Nebraska Corn Board and the Nebraska Soybean Board are teaming up and hitting the road for their first ever Checkoff Tour. The tour, which will take place over the course of two days – January 6 and 8 – is meant to give producers and industry personnel the opportunity to learn more about how their checkoff programs are working to help increase yields and build demand.

During the meeting, representatives from both the Corn and Soybean Boards will give updates on how checkoff dollars are being invested in the areas of education, marketing and research. Producers and industry personnel are encouraged to attend this free event to learn more about the programs and initiatives of the corn and soybean checkoffs, ask questions and provide feedback.

Victor Bohuslavsky, executive director of the Nebraska Soybean Board, said these meetings offer valuable information for corn and soybean farmers. “One of the goals of these meetings is to give farmers the opportunity to learn more about the checkoffs firsthand. These meetings are an excellent opportunity to hear from your district checkoff representatives about your investments in research, marketing and promotional activities pertaining to the corn and soybeans you grow.”

The tour will include two stops each day, with one meeting over lunch and the other over dinner. Each two-hour meeting is free to all attendees and will include a meal, presentations and a question and answer session. The schedule and location for each meeting are as follows: 

Tuesday, January 6

• West Point:       11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at the Nielsen Community Center
• Mead:                 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at the ARDC

Thursday, January 8

• Broken Bow:    11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at the One Box Convention Center
• Minden:             5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at the Minden Opera House

How to Register
If you are interested in attending one of the events, please RSVP by email or phone with your name and which location you plan on attending. To RSVP, simply send an email to RSVP@nebraskasoybeans.org or call (402) 480-4971. Registrations will be closed by noon on Friday, January 2.

“The Checkoff Tour is a great opportunity for the corn and soybean board to personally show producers the impact of their checkoff investment,” said Kelly Brunkhorst, executive director of the Nebraska Corn Board. “Their checkoff investment supports an entire portfolio of initiatives—each focused on adding value to every bushel produced in Nebraska.  We look forward to discussing these initiatives as well as answering any questions the producers have about their checkoffs.”